These women’s basketball players posted big-time performances and were named to the NCAA.com starting five this week.
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt freshman sensation Mikayla Blakes once again rewrote the NCAA and Southeastern Conference women’s basketball record books this past Sunday, registering a 55-point performance at Auburn that set the all-time freshman single-game scoring record.
Blakes shot a blistering 53.6 percent from the field (15-of-28) and made an SEC record 23 free throws in a 98-88 overtime win at Auburn. The 55 points scored by Blakes is tied for the ninth-most in a single game in NCAA women’s basketball history. She matches Patrica Hoskins of Mississippi Valley State, who scored 55 points twice in 1988-89. Blakes joins Hoskins as the only two NCAA Division I women’s basketball players ever to have multiple 53-point scoring performances in the same season.
Earlier this season, Blakes scored 53 points at Florida on Jan. 30 to set the then-NCAA and SEC true freshmen scoring records. She is the first NCAA freshman and the fourth NCAA Division I player since 1999-00 to have multiple 50-point games in the same season.
Vanderbilt started the week by dropping an 85-77 double overtime decision to Mississippi State at home on Feb. 14. It was the…
